Volume : 4 | Issue : 6 | June2015 ISSN - 2250-1991 Research Paper Management

A Study on Open ERP for Start-Up SMEs

Assistant Professor, Nehru School of Management, Nehru College Mr.DINESH.E of Engineering and Research Centre, Pampady, Thiruvilwamala, Thrissur, Kerala. Professor and Head, Department of Management Studies, Velalar Dr.T.VETRIVEL College of Engineering and Technology, Thindal, Erode, Tamil- nadu. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a software package, where it integrates the functional departments of an organization. In this article, an ERP package called (formally Open ERP) is a web based application. It supports the business processes of an organization. Odoo meets all the requirements of business processes irrespective of their industry. Start-up companies and small and medium sized companies may use this ERP package for their systematic way. This article focuses about ERP

ABSTRACT packages, Technical benefits of Odoo and Functional Benefits of Odoo for the business scenario.

KEYWORDS Open ERP, Open Source Software, ERP Systems, SME, Odoo

Introduction 4. ERP5 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is a software package, 5. webERP where it integrates the functional departments of an organi- 6. ERP zation. Functional departments of an organization like Human 7. Sugar CRM Resource, Finance, Materials, Sales and Distribution, Logistics, Manufacturing, Operations, etc. There are two types of ERP The above Open Source ERPs are free licensed web based Systems for enterprises. One is to install in the server or a en- softwares available in the internet. They also used Open terprise system and implement. This type is called Stand Alone Source Languages like Javascript, Php, Frappe, etc to develop ERP System. The Second one is a web based ERP System. In the ERP for End-Users. Most of the modules of these soft- this type, no need to install the ERP Software in a computer. wares are suitable for start-up company’s functional depart- Instead of installing, it accessing through IP address of a serv- ments like HR, Finance, Sales, Materials, etc. The company can er. But, internet connection is required. Mainly, ERP Systems use it, as it is. If the company needs any of the changes in are used in the organizations to reduce the cost involving in that particular ERP, they can go for Customization. For any goods and services. The ERP name itself says that, planning Customization required by any End-User (Company or Individ- the resources for an enterprise. ual) they have to pay for the changes based on their require- ment. Open Source Software Open Source Software is freely available software with its Open ERP (Odoo) . Anyone can edit, modify and redistribute to an- Open ERP is one of the popular open source ERP in the mar- yone for any purpose with free license. It does not have a li- ket for small scale enterprises. Open ERP changed it’s name as cense of ownership. Most of the open source softwares are Odoo. More than 2 million users are used Odoo Open Source free licensed one and some of the softwares are in-app pur- ERP worldwide. It has organized 6 groups of apps officially. chased method if the organization or an individual willing to The lists are, use and get the license for commercial purpose. • Front-End Apps: Website Builder, Blog, E-commerce Open Source ERP • Sales Management Apps: CRM, Point of Sales, Quotation Open Source Software has now moved higher value for small Builder business organizations who wanted to do the business sys- • Business Operations Apps: Project Management, Inventory, tematically. For those kind of firms doesn’t have plenty of Manufacturing, Accounting and Purchase amounts to invest and implement for an ERP to reduce their • Marketing Apps: Mass Mailing, Lead Automation, Events, cost cutting. Open Source ERP is a boon for them. It is a free Survey, Forum, Live Chat licensed ERP software package available in both Stand Alone • Human Resources Apps: Employee Directory, Enterprise So- Software and Web Based Software. Organizations can down- cial Network, Leaves Management, Timesheet, Fleet Man- load from the particular Open Source ERP as module wise or agement full version for Stand Alone ERP. For Web Based ERP, they can • Productivity Apps: Business Intelligence, Instant Messaging, access particular Open Source ERP’s website or IP Address. Notes

Start-Up Firms Odoo is developed by the company Odoo S A and written in Following are examples of Open Source ERP available in the the Python language with AGPL License (Affero General Public market: License).

1. Open ERP Technical Benefits of Odoo 2. Open Bravo • Open ERP (Odoo) is free for five user license for any organ- 3. ERP izations or individual

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• The firm or individual can access all the modules without paying any fee to the Odoo company • Accessing the ERP anywhere in the world • Responsive Web Based ERP • It supports all the devices to access (i.e Desktop, Laptop, Tablet, Smartphone, etc) • It also supports irrespective of operating systems • Browser Compatibility (i.e Internet Explorer, Chrome, Fire- fox, Safari, Ubuntu, Netscape, etc)

Functional Benefits of Odoo The company can access their functional departments through Odoo Open Source ERP apps. Supported Functional apps in Oodoo as follows:

• Website Builder, • Blog • E-commerce • CRM • Point of Sales • Quotation Builder • Project Management • Inventory • Manufacturing • Accounting and Purchase • Mass Mailing • Lead Automation • Events • Survey • Forum • Live Chat • Employee Directory • Enterprise Social Network • Leaves Management • Timesheet • Fleet Management • Business Intelligence • Instant Messaging • Notes

Conclusion The study about the Odoo Open Source ERP is a boon for Start-Up companies and Small and Medium Enterprises those who really doing the business systematically. It supports all the functional and technical aspects of business processes. The company can reduce the cost involving unwanted flows. Not only Oodoo ERP, all the ERPs are pro-active and giving the maximum output by using minimum resources in terms of business.

REFERENCES

1. www.odoo.com | 2. www.wikipedia.com/erp |

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